ROWING J | g- ? By 'AQUA.' -g- A MERRY XM AS TO OARSMEN. \\ ith ihe approach nf the festive season, and f»iter (.he championship regatta last Saturday, oarsmen are casing down in their work. Little will be done in the way nf training until after tbe holidays, when preparation will begin afresh for the Anniversary Regntia. The open races then for decision nre Maiden. Junior, and Snnlnr ? ? t «_i.. I w ,i i- ? .. . mm l^tgni-wcigni Maiden I ours. Although the Harbor waters arc : unsultcd to car-racing, yet there should he some Rood flnlihcs. Ono Is Rind to see Mr. .v J. McDonald as ono ot th» Joint hon. ?ocrctaries. Senior men row fn best-nnd-besc boats, but since the course is ,» rough one K. E. Kenrv siiKKOsted to tile Inst mectlnc of tho Associa tion Hint the Stnlor Fours should bo raced In regulation' bonis. The Idea has some merits, hut it kks turned down as it conflicted with the rule lhat st-nior races must be rowed in best-antl-bcSt bnoits. ot course, this does not pn^ont nn? ...

RUGBY UNION. (BY 'GULLIVER.') OLD RUGBY MEN FOREGATHER. 'Old times have changed; old manners pona/* The re-uuioQ of old Randwick footballers and contemporary players and officials at Bateman's Hotel on Wednesday evening was very success ful. Mr. W. T. Macplierson. once the amateur ? champion runner of Australasia, and captain of the old Randwick Football Club, presided over A gathering ol 50 or more. 'The Old Randwick Club' was proposed by Mr. James MacMunamey (University), and sup ported by Messrs. Arnold (Wallaroo) and J. R. Henderson (Pirates). Each speaker revived old memories of the stirring battles fought In tho aO's on the Sydney Cricket Ground aud th« Agricultural Ground, and paid tribute to tho p;owess of Randwick. a team to be feared. 'Departed Friends and Foes' was a toast given by the chairman, and drunk in silence. The number of noted players passed away Is re markable. One of the ablest was Theo. Richards, . the predecessor of Mr. Macpherson as captain of the Randwicks...

STIRRING STRUGGLE FOR KIGHT-0AR SUPREMACY (Hy 'OXU WHO WAS THEKE.') The result of the blf? race at the Association Regatta on Saturday last wns rno7o or les* ex pected by dose followers of the sport, no tho premiers were boating practically their full strength, and had been together some time. It may have seemed a risky move to placo r.'irKinson in the .No. u seat on a wcoK s wont, bur the New Zealandcr carried no suporfluoua weight. Is always in fairly good condition, and was no doubt better fit to 'do bis bit*' on Saturday than most people imagined. With Grandin in the stroke scat, backed up by Arness, Parkinson, nnd Parker, and a noMd : forward end. it would Indeed have been a sur* prise had the Blnck and Gold been beaten. Yet the Sydney crew, plucklly stroked bf Rabctt. went very close to 'doing tho trick.'* and gave the spectators something to talB about. The Light Blues had had some difficulty In gettlog a crew together, and the boat contained three men very new to big racing,...

There's a Sovereign for someone io this Snap-shotted Grouo. i WINNER Or LA SATURDAY S SNAPSHOT : MR. PATRICK GAFF, 237 GOULBURN STREET, CI TV. ' ' The above Is a photoerapblo reproduction of a group taken recently. The FIRST (but no other) member of this group who presents blmsolf at tho 'SATURDAY REFEREE AND *UE ARROW' OFFICE. 130-15S CaSUorengh-street, AND IS IDENTIFIED ns BEING ONE OF THE GROUP, win be paid ONE SOVEREIGN. All who concern themselves In this will ba taderstood to agree to accept tho paper's decision us final. Tho business of Identification will be entrusted to a member of tho 'SATURDAY nEFEREE AND THE ARROW' Staff. ANOTHER SNAPSHOT PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION will appear in nest issue, and others will follow. LOOK OUT FOR THE .'SATURDAY REFEREE AND THE ARROW' PHOTOGRAPHER In tho streets of Sydney.

GOLFJBRS' . FADS. LIKES AND DISLIKES OF GREAT PLATERS IN THE MATTER- OF CLUBS. Gazing in tho mind's eyo upon the leading golforo of 1912 and their methods of winning championships, we find plenty of Justification for tbo encouragement of Individuality whero the game of the links is concerned (writes R. 8. Howard in th$ 'jDai]jr Mirror'! , Takfi for Ja v stance, the respoctive likes and dislikes of John Ball and Edward Ray in the matter of clubs. These two men aro respectively amateur champion and open champion, each is foremost In thnt sphere of the pastime in which he is wont to operate. Ray is renowned for the trust which he places in his niblick. Its work in hunkers and other distressing features of the course constitutes a very small portion of its dally toll, hcause Ray, like other first-class golfers, refrains from, developing the habits of a hazard-erplorer. He uses it chiefly for execut ing approaches ; he takes it at almost any dis tance within seventy yards of the green, a...

I GOLF GOSSIP I ® S B» 'THE COLONEL.' — . ® 'Ring out the old, ring In the new,' a's wc have now reached the last green of 1012, There are few to whom the thought of another year passing away for ever does not bring some feeling of regret, even although they have had more naln than oleasure. more Borrow thnu sunshine ; but others will feel more than the ordinary pang at parting with a year that has held for them ko much enjoyment, and, In eome cat.es honor and fame. However, go It must, whatever it has brought, and so farewell 101^. and welcome li'LI. .What it will bring to all of us 'who knows ! who knows « Members of the Australian Golf Club will regret to hear that Mr. ganger Owen contem plates retiring at no distant dato from th- position of captain of the club, as he teels hf will not be able to spare the necessary timi In the future to properly carry out his many duties. Mr. Owen has been one of the most energetic and hard-working ? capains that tho club cv. r had. and the mem...

HUNTING PARSON. killed IN THE PLELD AT SEVENTY .TBAEfl OF AGE. Tho Rev. Charles Sllng»by, of Scrlven Park, Knareeborough, was thrown Irom his horse near Nun Monkton on November 16 while following tho York. and Aln8*ty houndB and, alighting on his bead,' -was lnatantlj- killed. Mr. SUngBbr. who was formerlv cnltnH A«isin-,A_ w..» the name of Slingsby on succeeding to tho fScrlyen- estate, was seventy years of age. It was through hunting that hlB ancestor, Sir Charles Slingsby, of Scriven Hall, met hi» death. Ho was hunting with others near Newby Hall* and tho $arty attompted to cross the River Ure In a crowded boat. One of horses beeamo rcstlvo, and the boat capsizing', six of the sportsmen were drowned. Sir Charles had nearly reached the shore 'when he »wa0 atruok and stunned by hU horse and sank. (Printed and Publlahed by Alfred Herbert Howarcf Aldworth, for the 'Sunday Times' V Fewtpaper. Co.. Limited, at the office of the Ooznpaay, 180 aad U9 Casilereash-sireet, December 22W 101$...

( SPORT IN OTHER LANDS ~| BRITISH REFEREEING IN RUGBY FOOTBALL. j PERPLEXING TO THE COLONIALS. Sometimes the Colonials hesitate, and perhapp, writes Major Phillip Trevor, it is only fair to call attention to one cause of hesitation. They are clearly perplexed by the variety in pro cedure of British refereelng. I have seen dis tinctly bad refereelng in South Africa, but this at least may. be said : Your player knows exactly where he Is with the referee in South Africa. Good, bad, or indifferent, tho point of view of twenty referees is more or less iden tical. The wide discretion allowed by the rules lead# to a divergence- of attitude with our roferee3. I myself have noticed during the tour the Colo nlala pulled up on the Thursday for something they are allowed to do without official inter ference on the Saturday. Tho remark applies aleo, of course, to their opponents ; for it i» not even hinted that they have been treated ?with olther favoritism or severity by the vari ous referees w...

CANTERBURY PARK RACING CLUB. ' ITS GROWTH— COl'K.-i: IMPROVEMENTS AND ITS SE'JKKTAKY. Mr. William l,ovel Davis, who has occupied the secretaryship of the Canterbury Park Rac ing Club for the past IS years, was ono of the original promoters of that tody, which, founded iu was the first proprietary club in the metropolitan district. Mr. Davis has managed its affairs since its Inception, and has seen the spot converted from sv.ampy bush into a splendid racecourse. Times have changed since the old days. The prize-money has Increased beyond all dreams, aad the club Intends to disperse even greater sums In the future. Th' appointment of sti pendiary stewards. Mr. Davis considers. lu:- raised the tone of the racing, and made it more popular than ever, with a result ;hat the clubs aic abb* ;o do more than ol old. Teud-n- haw been accepted for the erection of a seratchipc tower between ihe saddling paddock a:»d the l.eger. and the removal of the present tea rooms. It is the intention of the ...

STADIUM CHANGES IN CONTROL. Mr. 'Snowy' Baker aims to make it an Olympic Club, as well as Mecca of World's Boxers. (By 'SOLAR PLEXUS.') 'Thanks for your congratulations and good wisnes,' eald Mr. 'Snowy' Baker to tho writer on Boxing Day. 'Yes,' he continued, 'It is a big venture, but I have every hope of making a fuecrs-s of it.' And most persons who know him will endorse that view. 'Have 1 any new features to introduce ? Yes. While boxiug will remain tho main i^suo, as in the past, I hope to encourage kindred sports. Hut my arrangements, or negotiations, and ulti mate purchase from Mr. Mcintosh, of this huge institution, was hasty. Consequently 1 have not bad au opportunity of going thoroughly Into matters. But 1 can say that I have set my mind on encouraging wrestling championships, and will loso no time in fixing up. if possible, with Clarencc Weber and any suitable opponent, should there be one in Australasia.' Asked if he had thought out any means by which the big army of our ...